More please, More of God's Word
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Powerful Word!
Powerful Word!
The word is living, powerful and sharp (Heb4:12); it is Go breathed and is profitable and equipping (2Tim3:16-17). So, we are simply Christians studying God’s Word together. Today we are looking at the ministry of the Word in the heart of the believer, and helps us to grow to the fulness of Christ.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is profitable because it is God breathed, God inspired.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
I want to set this up a little more this morning, for we are going to spend the entire sermon in the word with little comment by me, well, as little as I can do.
The Word performs many good and wonderful things that you can see in Ps119.
It keeps us clean (v.9), gives us joy (v.14, 111)
It guides us (v.24, 33-35), gives us values (v.11, 37, 72)
Helps us to pray effectively (v.58)
It gives hope (v.49); peace (v.165) and freedom (v.45)
These are just a few of the things the word performs within us when we put the word in us. So, the outline today has some blanks of key points in Ps119 that the word does in us.
The writer is not identified in the Psalm. some attribute to Moses, others to a priest or a Levite, while others credit to Jeremiah and others to Ezra. Now regardless of not knowing the author we can know the author. It is someone who loves the Word of God, believers the Word of God, and applies and encourages others to apply the Word of God.
The theme, well it is the practical use of the Word of God in the life of the believer. Interesting that the writer in the O.T. is writing this with no view of the N.T. and more than likely did not have all the O.T. since it was not compiled yet. Think about this, we are New Testament Church of Christ. We pattern ourselves or hope we do to the pattern as laid out in the New Testament. What did the early church have at that time? The O.T. so they have Ps119 to learn from so we too can learn for we know
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Jesus, Matthew, Peter, John, Mark, Paul, Stephen, James and the Hebrew writer all referred back to the O.T. so now having said that grab your bible and your outline and let’s dig into Ps119 together!
While you are doing that one more quick thing for intro stuff.
The Psalm is broken down like this by some commentators and it maybe helpful to you.
The word and the soul of man (vv.1-56)
The word and society (vv.57-112)
The word and the sanctuary (vv113-168)
The word and the Shepherd (vv.169-176)
The Word and the soul of man
The Word and the soul of man
As considering the soul of man, the word brings blessings (vv.1-8); cleansing (vv.9-16); knowledge (vv.17-24); reviving (vv.25-32); establishing (vv.33-40); testimony (vv.41-48); comfort (vv49-56).
In an attempt to keep this to a reasonable length of time this morning we are only going to survey the Psalm. I encourage you to read it all for there is much more to gain, learn, grasp then what we can do in a few minutes together.
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3 They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. 4 You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. 8 I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies (v.2)
Blessed are those who seek Him, wholeheartedly (v.2)
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
It cleanses those who heed the word (v.9)
Be sure to hide the word in your heart so you don’t sin against God (v.11)
(Transition) now I want us to jump down a section. I’m sure you can see that each section of the Psalm contains eight verses. so, jump down to (v.25) now, please.
25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. 26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. 28 My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! 32 I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
The word revives according to (v.25)
The word teaches you, gives you understanding (vv.26-27)
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. 38 Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. 40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.
Be sure to incline your heart to the word. (v.36)
Turn away your eyes from worthless things (v.37)
For again, the word will revive you, in Your righteousness (v.40)
41 Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord— Your salvation according to Your word. 42 So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. 44 So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. 46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. 48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.
May you delight yourself in the word (v.47)
So you can speak the word (v.46)
All because you trust the word (v.42)
49 Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
51 The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. 52 I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord, And have comforted myself.
53 Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. 54 Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, And I keep Your law. 56 This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts.
The word comforts in our affliction (v.50) and it gives life (v.50)
57 You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words. 58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59 I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60 I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.
I think there is really a very important point to pull from this section and want to park here for a few minutes.
I thought about my ways, and I turned my feet (v.59)
I made haste, I did not delay (v.60)
(Repent now picture inserted here)
(stop) does this not sounds like repentance, why would he repent, because he has the word. The word has the power to convict and to convert!
Stop: Give importance of repentance, no salvation without it
65 You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. 68 You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. 72 The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
I was afflicted, I went astray, now I keep Your word. (v.67)
It was good for me to be afflicted, so I may learn Your statutes (v.71)
(Sinner separated from God picture inserted here)
Stop: because of the word, we can know, understand we are a sinner separated from God because of our sin.
145 I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes. 146 I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. 148 My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord, revive me according to Your justice. 150 They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth. 152 Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
I cry out (v.145) I cry for help (v.147) cry out to save me (v.146)
(Confess with your mouth picture inserted here)
153 Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. 156 Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your judgments.
157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. 158 I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness. 160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
Have faith he will deliver you (v.153); redeem you (v.154); He will revive you (v.154, 156); Because His word is truth (v.160)
(Once dead now alive picture inserted here)
Stop: I think we need to take a pause, make a detour, we have seen already the necessity of the word, the truth of the word that gave us knowledge of sin and our need to believe, confess, repent, to be saved and that God will save us, so now I must turn to another passage.
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Stop: Slowly expand on each of them below, don’t rush!
You were dead in trespasses and sin (Eph2:1)
But God, rich in mercy and love made us alive together with Christ. (Eph2:4-5)
It is for grace you have been saved through faith (Eph2:8)
Not of any works you have done (Eph2:9)
(Be Saved Today picture inserted here)
Invitation - (invitation song) (Prayer) (exit)